Friday, 17 June 2016

21 Things 'Today's Kids' Are Missing Out On

I was born in 1998. Now I don't really class myself as a 90's kid as I don't really remember anything from the decade. However, growing up in the early to mid-noughties, there is still some very distinct differences between children then and children now.

Although growing up in a more digitally reformed and enhanced world for children, definitely has its benefits. Sometimes I still feel sorry for these kids. They have missed out on some pure treasures of life. Things that have been forgotten and left behind. Things these kids will never get to experience. I loved growing up in the time that I did, as I have got to experience the best of both worlds. Not given an iPhone from the age of three but at the same time, not left in the dark when it comes to the digital age while technology improves at an exponential rate.

Anyway, I am rambling... I hope you enjoy!

1. Listening to the unbearable sound of the computer when it dialed up to the Internet. Which also took, what felt like three days to work and most of the time crashed half way through anyway

2. Experiencing your first ever loss, when your Tamagotchi pet died

3. Having to save up your pocket money for a DS game. Buying it. Playing it on repeat until either you couldn't get passed level three or you completed all the levels

4. Going on really dodgy game sites playing naff dress up model games or restaurant dash style games

5. Let's not forget Stardoll, club penguin and Moshi monsters. RIP

6. Only having one computer in the house which was used mainly for cheap computer games. If you ever needed to research something you went to the library and got a book. I know... A book!

7. MSN. In all of its glory!

8. When you would come from school and watched whatever was on TV. Not what you recorded last week or what's on catch up

9. Having to decide what 'Word art' font you wanted for your homework on Word. Oh, the decisions!

10. Being able to borrow audiobooks from the library which you would take on holiday and listen to in your portable CD player during the journey. Who else read/listened to the cat mummy by Jacqueline Wilson? CRINGE!

11. Being able to get lost for hours on end- messing around on paint, minesweeper or solitaire

12. Being able to actually go around to a friends house, knocking on their door house to see if they would come out rather than just texting them first

13. Having your first phone look like this... This was high tech stuff kids, back in the day!

14. Watching Disney movies on VHS!

15. A treat was considered going to the Mccolls and buying a pack of stickers for your sticker book. Most of which you probably already had. The rest you tried flogging at car boots. If you ever completed one of these books (I did) you remember the shear joy of sending off for the big sticker to go in the back.

16. Living in a time where 'Google it' wasn't the answer to everything. When there was no social media, no snapchat, Instagram or Twitter. Oh, how the world was so different!

17. Getting really excited for the fortnightly girl talk magazine. Let's not forget the crappy gifts, you thought were the bees knees! I swear kids these days don't even know what magazines are?

18. If you ever wanted a photo... You physically had to go into boots and print it out. You couldn't just store them on your phones.

19. Actually reading books that were made out of real paper. With the real smell of books... OMG, that smell!

20. Going to the library or blockbuster and borrowing a selection of films for an epic movie night, not just watching whatever is on sky movies

21. When you actually had to use your imagination to play games, come up with ideas and learn new things because there wasn't an app for it!

And there we have 21 things 'today's kids' are missing out on! I am fully aware I sound so old now. I also bet that anyone older than me, reading this is thinking 'She thinks she's old? what about me?'

I am definitely sure there are so many other things that need to be added to this list! If you can think of anything else then please do let me know in the comments below!

Do you think it's better to be a kid today or a kid in the past?! I would love to hear your thoughts!

35 comments

We were born in the same year! :) I loved growing up in that time as well - not having a phone with internet and social media and everything already from a young age like it's pretty common today is something I'm really glad about when I look back on it. Number 3 & 4 are the most relatable for me, playing DS games like Mario Kart with my brother & cousin was the best thing x

I absolutely loved this post! I was born in 2001, but I always love reading nostalgic type posts, because I find them so interesting and insightful. You have such a great way with words Nicole! Lovely post, as always girlie Xx

I still have loads of my Disney videos on VHS - I'm not sure if I can bear to part with them yet! Sticker packs were also definitely the one, I remember having loads when I was little. Plus, if you didn't collect the Horrible History magazines, what were you even doing?! Haha!

I was born in 2000 and I can really relate to this! I miss going on MSN every night! I had completely forgot about those sticker books too, those were the days! Your nostalgic posts are my favourite!!x

I was born in 1996 and people give me weird looks for remembering that dial-up sound, hahaha. Remember the PictoChat thing on your DS? I kind of miss that. Kids these days wouldn't even appreciate it, I think. How old does that make me sound now? XD

Nokia3310 was probably the best phone I've ever owned. :D I actually still got one in my storage and I'm sure it'll work perfectly fine if I'd go and dig it from there haha! Oh those good times, good old times.Oh! And when you turned PC on - that noise.And when there wasn't discs, there were diskettes, oh my goodness! I feel so old. And I'm only 21. Oh my.

I was also born in 1998, I love this post! I remember when my tamagotchi died, and I cried. I couldn't see why my mum was insistent that it wasn't such a big deal, hahaha. I also loved Jaqueline Wilson and the Cat Mummy. I still have my (51 book strong) collection of her books because I can't bear to get rid of them, so I'm waiting until my my god sister gets old enough to read them so someone else can enjoy them.

Oh my goodness, WORD ART! Using it used to be the highlight of any computer based work hahah 🙈 I absolutely loved sticker books as well, I wasted so much money trying to get a complete set! And yes, the smell of real books!! I still smell every new book I get! Really loved this post, super relatable!

This made me laugh so much! And also feel kinda sad for the kids that will never get to experience this stuff. Club Penguin was the best, although I remember my parents having a HUGE debate about whether it was 'safe' to let my sister and I play on it...not sure how they feel now with facebook/twitter/blogging haha ����

Haha, my first thought definitely was "Helloooo, I'm 10 years older than you." :D The 2000s were not bad to grow up in, although I definitely prefer my 90s childhood cause there was even less technology going on. Except for a Gameboy. But I totally agree with you in feeling nostalgic and sorry for today's generations. My godson is 5 and totally knows how to work an iPad or a Nintendo Wii. I mean, he does play outside and with normal toys, but still.

Going through your list, I thought about all the things that I still do oldschool, because that's what I learned, growing up. Technology fascinates me but I don't want and need to use it as much. I still have a VHS player because what am I suposed to watch my old tapes on?! I will never get an e-reader, I still love playing solitaire, although back in my days it was pinball, I printing out photos and I occasionally bring my Tamagotchi back to life. I never want to live without Google, though. :D

I absolutely loved this! The best part of that Nokia was it was literally unbreakable and the battery never died! If someone could make a smartphone with that staying power, they would put all the other companies out of business! Another one is that Disney Channel actually used to have good shows. Today's kids will never know the wonder of That's So Raven or Hannah Montana...